University Center of the Mountains Celebrates a Decade of Educational Service and Success

Posted on Friday, April 18, 2014 [6:15 PM]

HAZARD, Ky. -- For Lindsey Wilson
College student Jennifer Erwin, the University
Center of the Mountains has been a life-changing
experience.

After receiving an associate's degree from Hazard
Community and Technical College, Erwin earned a bachelor of arts
degree in human services and counseling from Lindsey Wilson, then
she enrolled in LWC's graduate program in counseling and human
development. And she did it all without leaving Perry County,
Ky.

Erwin was among several dozens college students,
professors and higher-education leaders who celebrated the 10-year
anniversary Wednesday of the University Center of the Mountains, which is
on the Hazard CTC Hazard Campus.

Founded in 2004, the University Center of the
Mountains is a consortium of Kentucky postsecondary educational
institutions who work together to bring bachelor's and master's to
the Kentucky River Area Development District, which serves
Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley Perry and Wolfe
counties.

In addition to Hazard CTC and LWC, the UCM includes
Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky State University, Midway
College, Morehead State University and University of the
Cumberlands. In the last decade, more than 1,000 residents of the
region have earned a college degree without having to leave
home.

"I've learned a lot about counseling, but I've also
learned a lot about myself," said Erwin, who lives in Hazard. "It's
been a really awesome experience for me -- it's opened a lot of
doors for me and it continues to open doors."

Erwin, who is a single mom of two young children,
is the first person in her family to go to college, "and I wouldn't
have been able to do that any other way."

"It is our responsibility to meet students wherever they
are so that we can help them realize their educational dreams,"
Luckey said. "Not everyone has the luxury of spending four years as
a residential student on a college campus, and the University
Center for the Mountains is a great way to serve students who
otherwise might not have the opportunity to earn a college
degree."